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Professional Reviews For This Wine

Wine Advocate | Rating: 97+

This bottle of the 1996 Salon is like every other bottle I have had recently, which is to say tight, tight, tight. Still, this painfully unevolved, mineral-driven wine shows tons of potential in its floral, white fruits. In a recent tasting of the 1979 Champagnes, the Salon was one of the finest wines, but it needed several hours of air to open up. Although the 1996 is pure magic in a glass, it remains a wine for the exceedingly patient.

Author: Antonio GalloniIssue: 0309

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International Wine Cellar | Rating: 95

($300) Green-tinged gold. Incredibly complex, intense bouquet of smoky, leesy orange, pear, licorice, minerals and bitter quinine. The superconcentrated citrus, quince and pear liqueur flavors convey an almost painful impression of extract and positively explode across the palate. Elegant, poised and precise in a manner rare for a wine with such flavor intensity. The vibrant, minerally, extremely long finish simply doesn't let up. This should age effortlessly for a decade or two. (Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA)

Author: Josh RaynoldsIssue: Issue 129

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Wine Spectator | Rating: 95

A deep, vinous style, with understated power and grace. The lemon verbena, toast and honey aromas and flavors are propelled by the well-integrated structure and fine bubbles. There's just a hint of greenness, marking its youthful impetuosity. Great length.

Drink Dates:
2010-2030
Author: Bruce SandersonIssue: WS Advance

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Richard Juhlin | Rating: 92

It is always just as exciting and different to taste the first glass of a newly released vintage Salon. There is nothing that is as perky and acid, as almost painfully fresh and full of go. In the midst of this 96 which is as clear as a bell and razorsharp, there is a buttery layer of the highest class, as in a Clos du Mesnil. The journey has begun!

Rating: 97
Author:Alexander C229Trust Rating:
98Tasted On:
09/19/2013Drink Dates: 2008-2025
Still amazing, and even better than the 1996 Dom Perignon, in my opinion. Still relatively tight, with notes of minerals and a slight hint of green apples that has faded over time. Fabulous finish.

Rating: 95
Author:Todd W59Trust Rating:
100Tasted On:
08/09/2014Drink Dates: 2014-2020
Opened, poured and drank over 1.5 hours. Beautiful light to medium yellow/golden color. On the nose some citrus and the beginnings of secondary aromas of roasted almonds; also still some bread dough, but the yeasty aromas are melting into the background. Very light and gentle bead. First impression on the palate is that of creaminess and breadth of flavor with a medium to long finish. Though this wine has years ahead, I found the aromas and flavors in perfect balance now for my taste; still plenty of freshness, but now interesting, mature aromas and flavors starting to spread out through this wine. Wonderful! Wish I had purchased several bottles years ago ... as this was my one and only!

Average rating: 95, based on
9 reviews

More Vintages and Sizes of Salon - Le Mesnil:

Collector Data For This Wine

6849 bottles owned by
683 collectors.

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About This Producer

With production focused on just one champagne, consistent premier quality is the necessary mantra. Such is the situation for Salon, located in the tiny, quiet village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the highly-vaunted Cote des Blancs region of Champagne. The champagne hails from a 2.5-acre vineyard wholly owned by Salon and from 19 smaller parcels within Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, all of which are Grand Cru vineyards that receive the rarest of ratings - 100%.

Wine Varietal: Chardonnay

Arguably the best dry white wine grape out there, Chardonnay is grown all over the globe. In addition to being the backbone of fine white Burgundies, Chardonnay is also one of the three major grape varieties used in producing Champagne. Susceptible to a myriad of complications, Chardonnay berries are relatively small, thin-skinned, fragile, and oxidize easily. Chardonnay grapes can be sensitive to winemaking techniques and more difficult to handle from harvest to bottling than many other varieties. Some producers will use malolactic fermentation (where harsher malic acid is turned into softer lactic acid and carbon dioxide) to reduce crispness and acidity and add a creamy, buttery texture to wines. The "oaky" character of some Chardonnays comes from fermenting or aging which takes place in oak barrels. Once barrel-aged, Chardonnay may take on notes of vanilla or toast. While Chardonnay is produced worldwide, the best can be found in France, the United States, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, and South Africa. Typical descriptors for Chardonnay include mineral, green apple, citrus, tropical fruits, vanilla, butter and smokiness.